BMW announces next generation engine families will share up to 60% of their parts between motors, same blocks

The cost cutting measures continue. BMW's head of inline engine development Harald Unger recently announced the goal is to share as many parts as possible between 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 liter inline motors including diesels. The idea is to have a common 500cc displacement per cylinder allowing the same basic block to be used for 3 cylinder, 4 cylinder, and 6 cylinder models. He even went further to state he wants the same turbo to apply to each motor reducing the amount of suppliers necessary.

Quote from Mr. Unger: "Our goal is to have 60 percent of components shared between engines based on fuel type, and 40 percent commonality between gasoline and diesel engines."

as crappy as this sounds, there is always a good side to these things.

For one, there will be more tuning applications as tuning can become "cross-platform." This may be good especially considering that replacement parts will inevitably become cheaper. Maybe, also efficiency will go up, as more development can be focused into a single design.

as crappy as this sounds, there is always a good side to these things.

For one, there will be more tuning applications as tuning can become "cross-platform." This may be good especially considering that replacement parts will inevitably become cheaper. Maybe, also efficiency will go up, as more development can be focused into a single design.

That is definitely the upside, same pistons, rods, etc. across more platforms.

Heres an example, how awesome would it be if the S63 had the same exact bolt spacing on the exhaust manifold as the N54. You could literally hack the manifold/turbo such that it would fit the N54. Or what if the valves were the same, except the S63 valves were larger in diameter? $#@! easy, swap them into your ported head. How about interchangeable flywheels and transmissions?

Have a 4 cylinder that makes 600 whp and need a stronger transmission? Easy, swap in the I6 'version' it should bolt right up because the blocks are the same.

Heres an example, how awesome would it be if the S63 had the same exact bolt spacing on the exhaust manifold as the N54. You could literally hack the manifold/turbo such that it would fit the N54. Or what if the valves were the same, except the S63 valves were larger in diameter? $#@! easy, swap them into your ported head. How about interchangeable flywheels and transmissions?

Have a 4 cylinder that makes 600 whp and need a stronger transmission? Easy, swap in the I6 'version' it should bolt right up because the blocks are the same.

These are a few examples of modular design and how powerful it is.

Keep in mind this only applies to 6, 4, and 3 cylinder inline motors.

They are also trying to give each motor the same turbo. There is some upside as far as having aftermarket internals and even blocks made but BMW is going to try to keep it uniform and locked in their interest, not ours.

They are also trying to give each motor the same turbo. There is some upside as far as having aftermarket internals and even blocks made but BMW is going to try to keep it uniform and locked in their interest, not ours.

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. How the hell are you going to properly size ONE turbo using it's compressor map with three different displacements, volumetric efficiencies (although probably close there), and likely different max rotational speeds?

Yeah that doesn't make any sense. How the hell are you going to properly size ONE turbo using it's compressor map with three different displacements, volumetric efficiencies (although probably close there), and likely different max rotational speeds?

Very easy, take two turbos designed for the 4 cylinder and use it for the 6.

I wonder if that means the gas engines will have the same block and crank as the diesels? That should mean that the gas engine could handle a ton of BOOOOOOST! Makes me wonder if there is anything shared on the 335i's and d's?

I wonder if that means the gas engines will have the same block and crank as the diesels? That should mean that the gas engine could handle a ton of BOOOOOOST! Makes me wonder if there is anything shared on the 335i's and d's?

Sure is interesting if they share the diesel blocks.

They are shooting for 40% sharing between those so who knows what parts it will be.